At the last trade meeting the Uber rep asked for a change in the condition. Currently Uber cannot take on anymore B&H licensed vehicles unless it also takes on more WAVs. He stated the condition was not compatible with some kind of regulatory something or other. Also adding that removing this condition would help reduce the number of out-of- town cars that work predominantly under Uber here.
Well considering there’s over 500 of these, I doubt whether Uber would tell them to go back to their own areas because they would be increasing the amount of B&H licensed PHVs should it get its own way.
He also stated that last month it only had sixteen WAV bookings. Fortunately, I pre-empted this as being a director of Streamline I obtained our WAV figures which worked out as being four hundred and sixty over the last month. I stated that maybe one problem is that when I’ve looked at the Uber app there’s often no WAV service showing to be available. Also, local companies can speak with customers to ensure the most suitable WAV is sent for their needs.
What the Uber rep didn’t know is that there is a lot of background here which he was oblivious to, but I put him straight. I told him that in 2018 when Uber applied for the renewal of its operator licence after only being granted a short one, the Uber legal bod and very charismatic Phillip Kolvin QC, pleaded with the licensing committee panel that it would fully comply with such a condition for WAVs and even increase the amount. I also informed him that a previous Uber rep attended a Trade Forum meeting with a befriended rep from a local disability group who praised Uber on its understanding of people with disabilities.
However, I put it to him that now, the billion dollar backed company wants to change the condition to have 20% of its Brighton & Hove Uber PHVs reduced or possibly have the condition removed. “Bring it on” I said.
BILKING
A few months ago, I wrote about the trade working with the police to ensure they knew that ‘bilking’ is a criminal offence and not a civil matter and that the trade was looking to get window stickers to set this out. This would be useful for the cabbie to point out to any officer who attended someone making off without payment, but also make it clear to passengers.
PHTM JUNE 2023
I’m please to say that after a delay getting approval to use the Sussex Police logo, and having produced various designs myself for trade reps to agree on, these are now being distributed by the trade at no cost to the council. The intention is to get in touch with the media to cover this and explain why we’ve done it.
PENALTY NOTICE
Don’t you just love those private companies that seem to revel in fleecing motorists! Recently a driver got in touch with me for some advice because he had received a penalty notice. He had taken a passenger to a pub and stopped in the pub car park. The passenger paid, but when he got out he tripped and badly cut his head. Being a very responsible licensed driver, he helped the chap out and sat him back in the taxi and called for an ambulance. He told me that the bleeding was very bad and sent me a photo of blood all over the carpet.
He then received a penalty ticket for overstaying the time as the car park is only for the pub customers. He appealed this under exceptional circumstances giving all the gory details. But unsurprisingly the appeal was rejected. He even explained the situation to the pub but the staff didn’t want to know.
I’ve advised him to either pay-up, or write back and tell them he will defend it in court. Plus, stating he would be charging them for his wasted time through a counter claim and that no further correspondence would be entered into. This is because I can’t see any magistrate taking the side of the parking company under those circumstances.
I explained that most people pay up as they can’t be bothered to go any further after a rejected appeal and so those companies can afford to bully and intimidate those people who stick their ground. I told him that he will probably receive further correspondence with threats of the penalty charge increasing and to also expect a court summons. I advised that if he considers this matter to be grossly unfair then he should have his day in court. But added that what would most likely happen is that they would pull out at the last moment knowing that they would lose. More on this as it unfolds….
Next job, role up sleeves to get in touch with all those new Licensing Committee councillors…
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